Antiangiogenic effects of the oral administration of liquid cartilage extract in humans

Background. The antiangiogenic properties of shark cartilage extracts have been demonstrated in animal models but there are no data in human subjects. Materials and methods. A placebo or one of two doses of a liquid shark cart ilage extract was orally administered daily, from Day 1 to Day 23 of the st udy protocol, to 29 healthy male volunteers randomized into three groups. O n Day 12, a polyvinyl alcohol sponge threaded in a perforated silicone tubi ng was inserted subcutaneously on the anterior side of the arm and removed on Day 23. Evaluation of endothelial cell density, with factor VIII immunos taining, an indirect measurement of angiogenesis, was performed on histolog ical sections of the implant using a semiquantitative numerical scale rangi ng from 1 (low density) to 5 thigh density). The hydroxyproline content of the sponges was measured by HPLC. Results. The mean endothelial cell density was significantly lower in group s that had received the liquid cartilage extract: grades 2.24 +/- 0.10, 2.4 7 +/- 0.10, and 3.15 +/- 0.11 for 7 and 21 mi liquid cartilage extract and placebo, respectively (P < 0.01 for both comparisons). No grade 1 was obser ved in the placebo group, whereas 9 treated subjects received a grade 1. Hy droxyproline content of the sponges did not differ between groups and there was no significant correlation between hydroxyproline content and endothel ial cell density in the sponges. Conclusions. These results demonstrate that the liquid cartilage extract co ntains an antiangiogenic component bioavailable in humans by oral administr ation. This is the first report of an inhibition of wound angiogenesis in healthy men. (C) 1999 Academic Press.